Ham Rong Cape is a small headland on the north coast of Phu Quoc, just along the shore east of Rach Vem and beside the mouth of the Rach Tram river. It has white sand, clear shallow water, dark rocks said to look like a dragon’s jaw, and forest that runs down to the beach. Most visitors arrive by a 10-minute boat ride from Rach Vem; others walk about 3 km along the shore.
Ham Rong Cape is quieter than the beach at Rach Vem because it has few or no services. In the dry season, from November to April, starfish also rest in its shallows.
Ham Rong Cape by private boat, before the day gets busy
Your boat runs from Rach Vem to the starfish sandbar and on to the cape, with time to swim before lunch on a raft house. Free cancellation up to 3 days before.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursSee the tour →Where Ham Rong Cape is, and what the name means
Ham Rong Cape sits on the north coast of Phu Quoc, east of the stretch known as Starfish Beach, between the fishing village of Rach Vem and the Rach Tram river. A small stream meets the sea at the cape, and primary forest comes almost down to the sand.
The name Ham Rong means dragon’s jaw in Vietnamese. It refers to the dark rocks at the tip of the cape, which local people say resemble the open jaw of a dragon. Whether the likeness is obvious depends on the angle and the imagination.
Ham Rong Cape used to lie on the border between Ganh Dau and Bai Thom communes. Both communes were merged into the Phu Quoc special zone of An Giang province on 1 July 2025, so today the cape is simply part of the special zone. For the village next door, see our Rach Vem Beach visitor guide.
How to get to Ham Rong Cape: boat or walk
The easiest way to reach Ham Rong Cape is by boat from Rach Vem, a ride of about 10 minutes. Walking is possible in the dry season: the route follows the shore and the forest edge for about 3 km and takes 30 to 45 minutes each way.
| By boat from Rach Vem | On foot from Rach Vem | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | About 10 minutes each way | 30-45 minutes each way |
| Cost | About 150,000-300,000 VND per person return | Free |
| Best season | Calm days, mainly November to April | Dry season only |
| What to expect | Small wooden boat, often combined with the starfish sandbar | Sand, rocks and forest edge; hot by mid-morning |
| Suits | Families, early starts, anyone short of time | Fit walkers with water and proper shoes |
Getting to Rach Vem itself comes first, and the route north from Duong Dong is covered in our guide on how to get to Rach Vem. Boat fares at the village are listed in Rach Vem costs; agree the price and the waiting time at the cape before you board. Whether the boat is worth it at all is weighed up in our article on the Rach Vem boat trip.
Walkers should start early. The path has little shade once it leaves the forest edge, the rocks near the tip are uneven, and after rain the ground turns slippery. Carry more water than you expect to need, because there is nowhere to buy any at the cape.
What you find at Ham Rong Cape
Ham Rong Cape is a small beach, not a resort. The main features are a curve of white sand, clear and shallow water over sand, the dark rocks of the dragon’s jaw, and trees growing right down to the shoreline. A small stream runs out of the forest into the sea.
There are few or no services at the cape. Do not count on food, drinks, toilets or rental loungers, and bring shade in the form of a hat or a light shirt. A stop at the cape usually means a swim and some photos before the boat returns to Rach Vem for lunch.
The water at Ham Rong Cape is shallow near the shore and suits a gentle swim. It is not a coral reef, and the rocks at the tip are best admired rather than climbed in bare feet. Water shoes make the rocky edges far more comfortable.
Ham Rong Cape and the starfish
Starfish rest in the shallows at Ham Rong Cape in the dry season, as they do off Rach Vem. Sightings are never guaranteed: numbers change with the season, the weather and the tide, and from May to October the murkier water makes them hard to find.
Ham Rong Cape is also where one of the best-known cases of starfish harm on Phu Quoc took place. In September 2022 Tuoi Tre reported that three tourists had lined up more than 100 starfish on the rocks at the cape to photograph them. Out of the water, starfish can die within minutes.
Look at the starfish at Ham Rong Cape where they lie, keep them in the water and do not stack or rearrange them for a picture. Our guide to seeing the starfish without harming them covers the details, and the article on the red cushion starfish explains what you are looking at.
If you want the cape without the bargaining
The private boat stops at the starfish sandbar and Ham Rong Cape, waits while you swim, then takes you back for lunch.
Starfish Beach Private Morning TourAbout 5.5 hoursSee the tour →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Ham Rong Cape: common questions
How do you get to Ham Rong Cape?
Most visitors reach Ham Rong Cape by boat from Rach Vem, a ride of about 10 minutes. In the dry season Ham Rong Cape can also be reached on foot along the shore, about 3 km and 30 to 45 minutes each way.
How much is the boat to Ham Rong Cape?
The boat from Rach Vem to Ham Rong Cape costs roughly 150,000 to 300,000 VND per person return, as of September 2026, and is often combined with the starfish sandbar. Agree the price before boarding.
Are there starfish at Ham Rong Cape?
Yes, starfish rest in the shallows at Ham Rong Cape in the dry season, from November to April. Sightings depend on the weather and the tide and are never guaranteed.
Is there food or water at Ham Rong Cape?
No. Ham Rong Cape has few or no services, so bring drinking water and sun protection. Food is available at the raft houses in Rach Vem, 10 minutes away by boat.
What does Ham Rong mean?
Ham Rong means dragon’s jaw in Vietnamese. The name comes from the dark rocks at the tip of the cape, which are said to look like a dragon’s open jaw.
The sandbar, the cape and lunch on the water
We collect you at your hotel, reach Rach Vem early and take a private boat to the starfish sandbar and Ham Rong Cape. The boat and a raft-house lunch are included.
★Starfish Beach Private Morning TourRach Vem by private boat before the crowds, a swim at the starfish sandbar and seafood lunch over the water. · About 5.5 hoursfrom$63/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$175BOOK →2 guests$200BOOK →3 guests$225BOOK →4 guests$250BOOK →See the full tour page →North Phu Quoc Private Day: Starfish Beach to SunsetStarfish Beach by private boat, lunch on the water, Ganh Dau Cape, the Cua Can mangroves by kayak and a west-coast sunset. · About 10 hoursfrom$91/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$255BOOK →2 guests$295BOOK →3 guests$330BOOK →4 guests$365BOOK →See the full tour page →Access, boat fares and conditions at Ham Rong Cape as of September 2026.